I felt completely drained, as if my body was gone — and not my own.

I could feel these heated, electrical sparks dance around me, leaving slight shocking sensations on my numb skin.

There was an internal blazing fire inside of me, burning my organs carelessly — growing with the demon that has found his way into my heart — the one place that was once clean of pure evil.

I could hear slight whispers coming from a variety of different voices but I could hear my ears focus on only one husky, male voice that sent wave like vibrations coursing through my trembling body and my numb skin.

All I could see was darkness, a pitch-black room with no light — it was frightening.

I want to scream out for help, but I wasn't awake nor was I the one standing in the room.

•
•
•

MARINA'S POV

"Is she okay now?" I asked Nolan warily, my gaze going from Celine to him, he looked frustrated as he opened his closed eyes — Dustin was tense beside me, he seemed impatient.

"When she awakens, she will rise once the full moon is evident, but she will wake in the strongest heat the she-wolves could ever go through. After this, I do not know the outcome or the end, but for now, my cousin will live — but she will not be at peace, until the light takes over. But, all of you must know, that only her Mate is allowed in her room and, or by her room — the scent of a she-wolf in their rising heat, is much stronger then usual, and unless you want any unmated wolf to attack her, I suggested making sure that they stay away from her and this room." He continued slowly, his gaze landed on all of us intensely, making sure we understood.

I couldn't help but watch my gaze trail back to Celine in pity, landing on her pale face, the dark bags under her eyes and her lifeless body. She looked dead, as if Nolan's magic did not work out.

"Alright Nolan, you played your part, now its back to your cell!" Dustin suddenly stated, his voice strong and stern, as if his Mate wasn't laying on her deathbed at the moment — I flinched at the thought and snapped my gaze to his.

"Understood Alpha Cadman." Nolan said softly, but I didn't bother looking his way or at Luke who oddly enough grabbed Nolan and allowed him to guide them to where he should be imprisoned.

"Doctor Andrews please take your leave and attend any other duties." I ordered sternly, my gaze plastered on Dustins scruffy cheek as he gazed straight ahead, not even looking at his barely living Mate.

"Understood Marina, call me if anything changes or if anything goes wrong — Alpha." He greeted politely before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him, I inhaled deeply.

"How do you feel about yourself right now Dustin? Do you feel like the Alpha you were supposed to become? Do you feel like the worlds strongest Alpha, knowing that you took part in the attempted killing of your Mate? Do you feel like our father?" I asked him angrily, dragging each and every word for more effect, his nostrils flared but he didn't turn his head my way, he just grunted making me scoff.

"How tough do you think you are? We had to use a prisoner to revive her. Do you understand what you could've done? You could've killed a Princess and started a war between us and the Royals. You could've endangered all of us — or better yet, the whole world!" I explained sternly, my words coming out fast and loud, he just stiffened while processing what I told him.

"You could've killed someone innocent. A sweet, young girl that I was beginning to love, a girl that I looked at like a sister. I promised her I would save her from you — keep her safe. Look at her now.." I paused to glance at Celine through my glossy gaze, my throat clogged up completely at the sight of her drained body.

"Can't you see what you've done?! How much hatred do you have towards such an innocent person, just because she was cursed to be your Mate?! You're sick Dustin! And you're just like him!" I growled and sobbed out at the same time, my heart breaking in the process — he finally turned to face me, his eyes were red, completely bloodshot and his fists were clenched — he looked strained, as if he was fighting his emotions.

"Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I know that I've made many mistakes? -more to come. This is who I am Marina; who I was cursed to be. I can't fight how I act, my wolf is struggling with his hold on me — I am a strong Alpha, but what made me strong also makes me a coward. As Celine had said countless of times." He stated, his words came out weak and his voice a hoarse whisper, his emotions shifted in his eyes but I could only focus on one — guilt.

"No — you don't get to act like this now! You've had so many chances! I've started to believe that you get some sadistic pleasures for seeing her in pain — that the curse has nothing to do with you and this-" I paused to point at Celine but my eyes remained locked with his, which were the color of coal; pitch black.

"I know! I know damnit! I know! I am not a sadist! I'm struggling so much Marina! Everyday I lose myself! Everyday is countless torture for both Celine and I, because I feel her pain! We aren't fully marked and mated, yet I still feel her pain, as if I do it purposely, just to taunt myself more! I can feel how much pain she's in now; my heart is in so much pain Marina!" He growled out, his face hardening and his shoulders flinched as if the pain hit him all at once right now just to prove his point. I wiped my tears and shook my head.

"You're just a cruel man Dustin and you've changed so much ever since you found your Mate. Oddly enough, you're becoming just like our father — the man who was amazing at first but grew to become a beast." I whispered out croakily, Dustin shook his head in disbelief and suddenly wiped away all his emotions, his stormy, electric blue eyes returning and a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips — making my brows furrow.

"You're right, I am just like dad and maybe, I could become worse." He spat out before storming past me and out of the room angrily, his words taking tole on my body making my knees buckle.

"I knew it." I mumbled to myself sadly before falling to the ground, right beside Celine's bed and leaning my head against the mattress, tears pooling out of my eyes soundlessly.

I knew he was a fake, a liar — a man that grew to love what he was cursed with, but also a man that grew to hate what he was blessed with.

The curse had blinded him — but I only fear how much further he could go.